Jeremy Hardy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jeremy Hardy
Hardy in 2016
Birth name	Jeremy James Hardy
Born	(1961-07-17)17 July 1961 Aldershot, Hampshire, England
Died	1 February 2019(2019-02-01) (aged 57)
Medium	Television, radio and stand-up
Nationality	British
Alma mater	University of Southampton
Spouse	Kit Hollerbach (1986–2006, divorced) Katie Barlow
Children	1 (adopted)

Jeremy James Hardy (born 17 July 1961 – died 1 February 2019) was a well-known English comedian. He grew up in Hampshire, England. Jeremy Hardy studied at the University of Southampton. He started his comedy career in the 1980s.

He became famous for his funny appearances on radio shows. These included News Quiz and I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue. In 1988, he won the Perrier Comedy Award. This was a big prize at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Early Life and Education

Jeremy Hardy was born in Aldershot, Hampshire. He was the youngest of five children. His father, Donald D. Hardy, was a rocket scientist. His mother was Sheila Stagg.

He went to Farnham College. Later, he studied modern history and politics at the University of Southampton. After college, he thought about becoming an actor or a poet.

Comedy Career Highlights

Jeremy Hardy began writing scripts. Soon after, he started doing stand-up comedy in London. This was in the early 1980s. He received some money from a special government plan to help new businesses.

In 1988, he won the important Perrier Comedy Award. This award is given at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Television Appearances

Hardy first appeared on television in the late 1980s. He played Jeremy, a boom operator, in the comedy show Now – Something Else on BBC Two. He also made guest appearances on shows like Wogan on BBC One.

He was in other comedy shows, including Blackadder Goes Forth in 1989. He also presented a TV show about the history of the English Civil War. In 1996, he even hosted an episode of Top of the Pops. From 1998 to 1999, he was a team captain on the BBC Two game show If I Ruled the World.

Radio Work

Jeremy Hardy worked a lot on BBC Radio 4. He was a regular on The News Quiz and I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue. He also had his own long-running show called Jeremy Hardy Speaks to the Nation.

On I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, his singing was often a running joke because it was off-key. He also appeared in the radio comedy Linda Smith's A Brief History of Timewasting. In 2017 and 2018, he had a four-episode series on Radio 4 called Jeremy Hardy Feels It.

Writing and Books

Hardy wrote a regular column for The Guardian newspaper until 2001. After that, he wrote for the London Evening Standard magazine.

His first book, When Did You Last See Your Father, came out in 1992. In 2010, his book My Family and Other Strangers was published. This book was based on his research into his family history. After he passed away, a collection of his writings called Jeremy Hardy Speaks Volumes was published in 2020. His wife, Katie Barlow, and his radio producer, David Tyler, helped put it together.

Political Views and Activism

Jeremy Hardy was a strong supporter of socialist ideas. He was a member of the Labour Party in the UK. He often performed at Labour Party events. Jeremy Corbyn, a former Labour leader, called Hardy a "dear, lifelong friend."

Hardy used his comedy to share his political views. He was against the Trident programme, which is about nuclear weapons. He also supported campaigns for social justice.

Personal Life

In 1986, Jeremy Hardy married actress and comedian Kit Hollerbach. They adopted a daughter named Elizabeth in 1990. Later, he married photographer and filmmaker Katie Barlow.

Hardy was a close friend of comedian Linda Smith. When she died in 2006, he spoke about her publicly and wrote her obituary.

Later Life and Legacy

Jeremy Hardy passed away from cancer on 1 February 2019. He was 57 years old. Julia McKenzie, who worked at BBC Studios, said that Hardy could make people laugh while also making important points about his beliefs and caring for others. Miles Jupp, a friend and host of The News Quiz, wrote his obituary in The Guardian.

Appearances

Television

Radio

Film

• Hotel (2001)
• Jeremy Hardy vs. the Israeli Army (2003)
• How to Be (2008)

See also

In Spanish: Jeremy Hardy para niños